Best bonus of the solitary life,late hours, the stack beside the bed as goodas a new lover any night. But nowthere's all the courtesies to do, of bed-side lights and sex and sleep and who's the first to shut up shop. Tonight it's me. Your thrill-er, Scorcher, clearly is. I snuggle in,conscious that you're close but miles away(in Florida, to be precise). I lieand listen as the turn of pages slowsdown time. The hush-hush sound your thumb's rub makesis like the lap of waves that lulls me off, tucked up in self while you, on night watch, learnwhodunnit, why and when and worlds roll by.